Left to right: yours truly, Rick Green, Priscilla, and Jonathon

I had the tremendous privilege to return to Patriot Academy this year, this time in company with two of my siblings, Jonathon and Priscilla. Patriot Academy is always such an inspiring, educational, and helpful event, and this year was one of the best. Here are some of the highlights of the week:

1. Priscilla’s Immigration Bill

Priscilla and her chief ally, former Speaker of the House Jennifer Lackey

Priscilla brought her own version of Arizona’s immigration law to Patriot Academy. This was her first year, but she worked the system well. I think she was one of the few Patriots to speak with her committee members about the bill individually before bringing it up in a meeting. This is one of the keys to getting it passed.

We had an amusing situation while she was presenting it on the House floor. Everyone was in favor of the bill, except one of the mentors, a former Patriot himself. He believes that the Old Testament command to treat the stranger in the land as one of your own precludes harsh anti-illegal immigration policies. So while she’s debating her bill at the front mic, he’s in the center of a large huddle out on the floor attempting to sway opinions against her. Fortunately, he didn’t get anywhere and the bill passed unanimously, moved through the Senate, and was signed by the Governor. Hurray!

2. The Term Limits Debate

Me at the front mic and Jonathon at the back

The Hill family doesn’t always agree on policy issues, and term limits is one big source of debate around our dinner table. Jonathon is staunchly for, and I am staunchly against. One of the freshmen, Kaylee Cowan, brought a term limits bill, and after consulting with one of our mentors, David Simpson (soon to be Representative Simpson), I decided to speak against the bill.

So I took to the front mic and started explaining why I think it’s a bad idea. Jonathon went to the back mic and started asking if I would yield for a question. I was on a roll and wanted to finish what I was saying, so I refused. He kept heckling me and I kept ignoring him, much to everyone else’s amusement. When I finished, I was so carried away that I completely forgot to say that I would now yield for questions, and just left the mic, much to the chagrin of Jonathon and the lineup behind him. So sorry about that, guys!

And when I got back to my desk, I found a note of praise and encouragement from Jonathon. Is that a statesman, leader, and awesome older brother or what??? Love you, Jonathon! <3

One finger signifies an "aye" vote, and two a "nay". As soon as folks noticed us standing like this, a ripple of laughter spread and cameras came out. (photo courtesy of Matt Cassady)

3. Chairing the Elizabeth Lewis Committee

At Patriot Academy, committees are not assigned by topics. The students are simply divided up into groups and each committee hears the bills brought by its members. I was asked to chair the Elizabeth Lewis committee (named after the wife of one of the signers of the Declaration), and it was a real joy. Most of the members were freshmen, but they were sharp, professional, well-mannered, and  extremely focused. I am convinced that I had the best committee in the House.

Committee debates are always a lot of fun, and we went through a lot of interesting bills. Our thinking was challenged, we learned a lot about the various topics, and we got some experience applying principle to policy. We had two outstanding committee mentors, Les Best and Matt Krause, who were very knowledgeable, informed, and insightful. They provided excellent leadership and input, and even played devils’ advocate a couple of times. So much fun!

committee picture coming soon

4. Meeting David Simpson

One of the best parts of Patriot Academy is the new friendships you form, and this year we met one of the most amazing gentlemen ever.

The three of us with Mr. David Simpson

Mr. David Simpson is a homeschool father who ran for Texas State House in the Primary last March. It was a David vs. Goliath fight against an incumbent RINO, but Mr. Simpson pulled off an unlikely victory with the help of God. He is running unopposed by a Democrat in the general election. I’m told that his only opponent is a Libertarian, who is more liberal than Mr. Simpson. I don’t anticipate any trouble there!

Mr. Simpson came to help mentor the students this year, but he had such a humble, teachable spirit all week. He had such valuable insight on the various issues, but made it clear that he was there to learn as well. He was such an example of character and integrity to us, and it was a privilege to be able to learn from him and get to know him a little. I am so excited that he’s going to the Texas House. May the Lord raise up many more like him!

5. The Workshops and Sessions

The leadership at Patriot Academy always brings a stellar set of speakers to address the students throughout the week, but none are better or more beloved than our own Rick Green and Kathi Seay (affectionately known as “Mama Seay”). Their talks were always so practical, inspiring, and insightful.

Rick Green's public speaking workshop (photo courtesy of Anna Becker)

One of Mama Seay's policy workshops

Some of the material you hear at PA is new, and some is the same every year, but the things that are repeated are the best. This material forms the backbone of Patriot Academy, and basically consists of what it means to be a conservative, and how to be effective at it. After four years of PA, it was exciting to feel like I’m finally started to “get” some of it, but this will be material that I refer back to all my life.

6. The Graduation Dinner

One of the desserts on Priscilla's table. My piece was chocolate.

Friday evening we had a semi-formal graduation dinner and a “Passing of the Torch” ceremony. Supporters, veterans, and family members filled up the room. We heard from two inspiring speakers, newly-elected TX Senator Brian Birdwell and Krish Dhanam. Mr. Dhanam is an Indian immigrant and one of the most patriotic men I’ve ever seen.

Mr. Krish Dhanam

After the speakers finished, the veterans in the room were recognized in a moving ceremony. Each soldier’s bio was read, and he was thanked with a round of applause. Following the recognitions, the veterans then participated in the graduation ceremony by awarding each patriot with a medal as their names were called. The medals had a torch emblem, symbolic of passing on the responsibility of protecting and preserving the torch of freedom.

World War II Veteran Bill Johnson and William Simpson (photo courtesy of Anna Becker)

This was followed by the presentations of Patriot Academy awards for statesmanship, skill, courage, etc. and by the announcement of the election results. (The student body elects their own Governor, Lt. Governor, and Speaker of the House each year. The election was held the previous day, but they made us wait till the dinner to find out who won. Oh the suspense if you were running!)

Marshall Yaklin receives the "Rookie of the Year" award for an excellent job of mastering the legislative system. (photo courtesy of Anna Becker)

It was one of the  most moving and inspirational evenings ever.

At the graduation dinner with several of my committee members: Gabrielle Joransen, Cynthia Umstattd, me, Alex McDonald, Emily Nicholson, and Emily Dilts (photo courtesy of Anna Becker)

7. Friendships and Fellowship

Many times it’s easy to feel like Elijah when he lamented to the Lord, “I, even I only, am left.” At Patriot Academy we are all reminded that there are 7,000 left who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Friendships are formed that will last a lifetime, and memories are made that we will always treasure.

Discussing a bill with Kaylee Cowan (right) and Bryana Bullock (left).

Left to right: Bryana Bullock, Joshua Russell, Kyle Griesinger, Jessica Blomgren, and Tara Witter.

Hanging out in the airport with (L-R) Sara Anderson, Grace Mosher, Priscilla, Jessica Blomgren (one of my roommates - and yes, she was like that all week), and Jonathon

I miss you folks! (photo courtesy of David Simpson)

Rick Green’s charge to us at the end included three take-aways:

Charge to the students (photo courtesy of Anna Becker)

1. Get in the game. Don’t hesitate because you’re scared. We need you right now.

2. You are not alone. There are are millions who have not bowed the knee to Baal.

3. Be a reflection of the light. The meaning of life is not to be the light, but to be a reflection of that light and a conduit of hope.

He closed with these words:

“Make sure that your children have no reason to curse you for surrendering your rights. It’s going to be hard, but freedom is worth it. You know what to do; now go do it.”

Yes Sir!

We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name and by the authority of the good people of these colonies solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states; ….

….And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.

“Whether this liberty will prove a blessing or a curse will depend upon the use our people make of the blessings which God hath bestowed on us. If they are wise, they will be great and happy. If they are of a contrary character, they will be miserable. Righteousness alone can exalt them as a nation. Reader! Whoever thou art, remember this; and in thy sphere practice virtue thyself, and encourage it in others.”
- Patrick Henry

“Posterity: you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it.”
- John Quincy Adams

“For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.”
Luke 12:48

Conservatives are like high school girls: they fall in love at the drop of a hat. There is a disturbing tendency among conservatives to make heroes too easily.

Example #1: Joe Wilson

Consider the case of Joe Wilson. Caught up in a self-described “town hall moment”, he shouted “You lie!” at the President when Obama was, in fact, lying. This uncharacteristic action made Wilson the overnight darling of the Tea Party.

What no one knew or took time to investigate was his Congressional record. Wilson was one of the four South Carolina Republicans who all held hands and voted for TARP, reasoning “They [the voters] can’t vote us all out.” [as an aside: three of those four Republicans will not be returning to Congress.]

Generally speaking, Wilson’s been a part of the problem in DC.

Example #2: Chris Christie

Also consider Chris Christie: the popular governor of New Jersey created an internet sensation with his no-nonsense solutions for dealing with the state deficit and his straight-talk to the whining liberals. It was music to the conservative’s soul to hear him tell a complaining teacher, “Well, you don’t have to take the job, you know.”

Unfortunately, Christie’s conservatism seems primarily limited to fiscal issues. He takes a more liberal approach to issues like immigration, education, and healthcare.

The Problem

The problem is not that people praised these actions. The trouble is that conservatives immediately lionized both of these men as soon as their actions hit the press. Tea Partiers fawned over them and wished they’d run for President. No one cared that we really knew very little about either one.

Applaudable actions should be applauded, no question about that. But what is it with the falling-head-over-heels-in-love with these guys just because they did something right? Many folks – good, honest, sincere folks – were ready to run away with them and live happily ever after.

The Cause

Is there a tremendous lack of discernment in conservative circles? Or is just doing the right thing so rare that we’ve become infatuated at the slightest demonstration?

The answer is yes.

Since the Duncan campaign made the Republican Primary Runoff, a lot of mischaracterizations, innuendos, and outright lies have been spread about Jeff Duncan. I confess to some surprise about this, since it’s the last thing I expected from the supporters of Richard Cash.

Duncan has been called a lawyer and a career politician, and detractors have hinted that he’s part of the “good ole boy” network. Now where the lawyer part came from, I have no idea. But I think I know why they call him a career politician and a “good ole boy”.

It’s because he’s served in the South Carolina General Assembly since 2003. That’s it.

That has to be it, because if they had checked out his record, they would know that:

• he’s been in lock-step with Nikki Haley the whole time (and I shouldn’t have to tell you how the Republican powers-that-be feel about her)
• he’s been one of the strongest fiscal conservatives in the house
• he’s so strong on school choice that the Democrats recruited a primary challenger (who was a Democrat incognito) to run against him in 2008 – on that issue alone
• he was one of the original cosponsors of the school choice bill that conservatives have pushed in the House for years
• he foresaw the passage of Obamacare, and filed nullification legislation ahead of time so we’d be ready when the time came
• he’s served as an effective chairman of the Agriculture Committee without becoming one of Speaker Harrell’s “boys”

And the list could go on and on.

Legitimate disagreement on the issues is fair game. However, there’s an anti-incumbent spirit among conservative voters right now, and the detractors are trying to play to that for the benefit of their candidate. A lot of incumbents are rotten, no question about that, but not every incumbent needs to go, and to say so is a knee-jerk reaction only befitting a hothead.

There are some of us who have gotten heavily involved only in the last couple of years, and then there are some principled conservatives who have been involved for a number of years.

Why?

Because they saw what we saw years before we saw it. We are the johnny-come-latelys in the political fight, and men like Jeff Duncan are the seasoned warriors in the trenches of liberty who are hailing the reinforcements with joy.

And some folks want to kick those warriors out of the ditch, ignore their wounds and decorations, and treat them like the enemies of freedom just because they were there first. Is this honor? Is this patriotism? Is this gratitude?

I hate to think what these people would have said about the founding fathers, who served for years and years, at the expense of their personal lives, their families, and their businesses as they built this country for us.

I encourage everyone to check out how Jeff Duncan and Richard Cash stand on the issues. If you do, I’m sure you will see why I, a homeschool graduate, am supporting Duncan over Cash. And perhaps, you’ll see why his supporters have resorted to these dishonorable attacks as well. It’s because there’s nothing else to attack.

“Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual — or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.” –Samuel Adams

Remember when you vote, that you are not……….

• returning a political favor
• thanking a candidate for helping you in your election
• taking revenge on a personal/political enemy
• trying to boost a candidate’s self-esteem
• protesting the general ills of society
• making a statement
• passing a personal mandate against a candidate’s character
• proving your friendship for a candidate

You’re simply choosing who you think would best represent you, and is the best candidate for the job. That’s it.

And remember, you are responsible to God and to your country for how you use this privilege.

Vote wisely.

In England, the recent general election has resulted in a party coalition between the Tories and the Lib Dems. In my opinion, point #10 of their coalition programme is pure genius.

10. The parties agree to implement… a new mechanism to prevent the proliferation of unnecessary new criminal offenses.

Okay….I have a few questions about this.

1. What is an unnecessary criminal offense? Perhaps more importantly, what is a necessary criminal offense?

2. What mechanism could possibly succeed in preventing the proliferation of the aforesaid criminal offenses where the police force has failed?

3. Would these criminal offenses happen to refer to the trampling of liberty by England’s political leaders? Or is that what you’d call a necessary criminal offense?

A seat in Congress will be vacated this November (thank goodness), and six contenders have been vying for the opportunity to represent South Carolina’s third Congressional district in Washington.

For years we’ve been waiting for “Mr. Smiths” to see America’s desperate need of leaders with integrity, and sail into their job. In selecting a candidate, I was looking for some specific characteristics:

• Unquestionable integrity
• A reverence for the Constitution
• Understanding of the nature of the threats to our National Security
• A Biblical worldview
• Personal and political adherence to traditional values
• Fiscally responsible philosophy
• An understanding of practical, non-compromising incrementalism
• A politically strategic mind
• Fearlessness of the opinions and attacks of the left, the GOP, and the media
• A willingness to do  more than merely vote correctly. Someone who will get out there and throw hand grenades
• Someone who will do the right thing, regardless of political consequences
• Humility and a servant’s heart

It’s been a real pleasure to get to know all of the candidates, and there are several that I really like, and hope to hear more from. However, for this office, one has consistently risen above the rest.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you our “Mr. Smith”: State Representative Jeff Duncan.

I have listened to stump speeches, debates, forums, and quizzed the candidates myself. Jeff Duncan is the only one who consistently met the qualifications I had in mind. He is not a career politician who is in this race for political gain, and he does not consider it the next step up on the political ladder.

Based on my observation, he would be completely happy to simply stay at home, run his business and raise his children. He’s running for Congress because our freedom to do just that is in danger.

As a current SC legislator, Jeff Duncan has a proven track record of fighting for the liberties and the pocketbooks of the taxpayers. I know he’ll start shaking things up in Washington, because he’s been doing it in Columbia.

And, he realizes that being right is not enough if it’s not paired with effectiveness. This is absolutely crucial to effective Statesmen. Rep. Duncan understands the vital importance of knowing the system, building coalitions, working behind-the-scenes, involving the grassroots, and not caring who gets the credit, so long as the job gets done.

We need men like Jeff Duncan in Congress. I am thrilled to be able to support him, and I hope you’ll join me in working to send him to Washington. Click here for his campaign website.

The continuing thread throughout the Democrats’ healthcare speeches on the House floor is that the insurance companies are the bad guys, and they need to be cut down a notch or two.

Here’s what the Democrats are missing: the free market system is successful only when it’s allowed to function in its entirety, free from government intervention. When the government starts meddling in different aspects, it throws the whole process off-kilter.

Are there problems with the insurance companies? Absolutely, but those problems are not the fault of the free market. They are caused by the government’s refusal to allow it to function properly.

So now, the solution appears to be killing what remains of the free enterprise system instead of removing the bureaucratic choke-hold that prevents it from succeeding.

That’s Democratic wisdom for you.  Don’t you feel safe with them running the country?

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]]> http://www.inhenryswake.com/2010/03/the-real-healthcare-problem/feed/ 1 http://www.inhenryswake.com/2010/03/the-real-healthcare-problem/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/InHenrysWake/~3/o85K8XWqSFY/ http://www.inhenryswake.com/2010/03/just-an-excuse-to-visit-starbucks/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:19:11 +0000 Hannah http://www.inhenryswake.com/?p=164

I find this amusing on so many levels, but principally because I’m always glad for an excuse to protest coffee.

It seems that there are some people who don’t like the rhetoric of the Tea Party (many of them supported Obama – go figure), so in protest they’ve formed…drumroll please…the COFFEE party!! From what I can tell, it seems to be about “coming together”, positive ideas, holding hands-and-singing-kumbaya, etc. (As opposed to the Tea Party, which is all about dumping things overboard, I suppose.)

Now, I’m all for coming together and everything, but folks, there are some things worth fighting for! If at this critical time in our country you’re more interested in “coming together” than drawing a line in the sand, you’re either a traitor or an idiot. Put that in your coffee and sip it!

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Update: it seems the founder of the Coffee Party is an Obama operative and a former New York Times strategist. No wonder she’s getting so much media attention. Can anyone say astroturf?

Ever since her husband’s disgraceful scandal, South Carolina First Lady Jenny Sanford has been praised for the “grace and dignity with which she has handled this tragic situation”. Many appear to regard her as a true lady. While I certainly feel for her, I’m afraid I would disagree. 

A true lady understands when to speak and when to keep silent, and what should – and shouldn’t be said. Wasn’t a lack of discretion what everyone criticized Gov. Sanford for? And yet his wife has written a book and has appeared in numerous media interviews, all the time revealing what a terrible husband she had in detail that was nobody’s business. I ask you, would a lady do that?

A lady does not attempt to capitolize on tragedies for the sake of her public image and/or political ambition. A lady is unselfish and humble, and seeks the healing of everyone who was involved rather than caring what everyone thinks of her, or worse yet, saying “What can I get out of this?”

Perhaps most importantly – and this is incidentally Mrs. Sanford’s greatest failure – a lady understands and accepts that it has to be a pretty thin pancake only to have one side.